Die



y 1944- c. M. BREHM 2,347,808

DIE

Filed July 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 1944- c. M. BREHM 2,347,808

DIE 1 Filed July 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 2, 1944 DIE Charles M. Brehm, Springfield, Ohio, assignor to The Steel Products Engineering Company, Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 15, 1942, Serial No. 451,079

8 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for trimming formed articles and more particularly to a die construction having relatively movable cooperating parts which shift with respect to each other to trim a partially formed blank.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a trimming die of this character which is arranged to follow a predetermined sequence of movements which are so related that it is possible to separate the scrap in a single piece and thereby facilitate its collection and removal.

It is a further object to provide a trimming die of this construction in which the relative movements of the trimming members take place in rectilinear or straight line paths and in proper predetermined sequence to provide for separating the scrap at one end first, then progressively along the sides of the blank, and finally to separate it as a single piece from the end of the blank opposite that initially treated.

It is a further object to provide trimming dies of the above character which are substantially built and are strong and positive in operation, providing for accurate and positive trimming 'movement while assuring the retention of the blank in properly held position to aiiord a uniform edge around the entire periphery thereof.

It is also an object to provide a process of trimming a blank which is simple and rapid and is effective for freeing the scrap in a single piece.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a view in vertical section through a press provided with trimming dies embodying the present invention showing the upper and lower die members in engaged position and at the beginning of their stroke of trimming movement;

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view on a plane at right angles to the plane of Fig. 2, the two views being shown in corresponding relative positions; and

Figs. 4A to 4D are respectively horizontal sectional views taken through Figs. 2 and 3 on the line 4-4 thereof and showing the series of operative positions of the die members and the resulting scrap throughout the course of the trimming operation.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment or the invention, the die members are shown as being carried by a press including an upper carrying member ID and a lower or fixed supporting member ll. Fixed guides [2 carried by member I! project upwardly through apertures IS in the carrying member ill to guide the movement of the upper member as it is closed. Any suitable form of press may be used as desired, thatshown being for illustrative purposes only.

The carrying member ill carries a plate l5 which is secured by means of bolts I6 and which in turn is provided with a plurality of pressure pins ii. The plate also supports the male die member or punch l8 which forms the upper or relatively stationary trimming member, such member being suitably flanged to be received and held in place upon the assembly of plate l5 and member I II.

A blank clamping member 20 is received internally within the blank 2! and is adapted to hold the blank securely by contact with the inner face of the base thereof during the trimming operation and it also serves as a gage to control the depth of the blank at which the trimming operation occurs. Clamp 20 is supported from the upper trimming member IB by means of a rod 22 having an enlarged head 23 received within the upper neck 24 of clamp 20 in such manner that it is free to rock in all directions above the clamp while maintaining its engagement therein. Such rocking or swiveling motion is provided for in its support which comprises a sleeve 25 carried on its upper end in a seat in member I8. The rod carries a nut 26 which retains a spring 21 between the nut and the sleeve 25, thereby making it possible for the lower end of the rod to move with the blank, the upper end tilting as required within the upper member IS.

The blank 2! is shown in the form of a cup shaped member of generally circular cross section, the projecting portion 30 of the edge being that part desired to be trimmed ofi. While a blank'of circular cross section is shown, this is for illustrative purposes only as the invention provides for trimming blanks of any cross section, regular or irregular, and with or without notches or projections on the edge. The blank is received within a central recess in the lower trimming member 35 corresponding in shape with the section of the blank, which member is seated within and carried by the cam block shown at 36, being suitably fastened thereto by means of a series of bolts 31.

The cam block 36 is generally rectangular in shape and has a plurality of pairs of oppositely tion and upon the opening of the/press.

arranged cam surfaces cooperating with pairs of cams fixed to stationary member I I for eilecting lateral shifting of the lower trimming member in a series of predetermined movements, as will be described hereinafter. A chip shield 38 prevents chips from lodging in the cams.

Bearing against the lower side of the cam block 36 is a member 40 which is provided with recesses to receive the flanged head of elongated rods 4|. Springs 42 are received over rods 41 and are caused to engage against member 40 at one end urging it upwardly into contact with cam block 36, the other end of the spring 42 engaging against a cross plate 43 through which the rods 4| freely extend. The cross plate 43 is formed to engage over a second series of rods M the upper ends of which are fixed to the frame II, with the lower ends carrying nuts 45, washers 46, and compression springs Al It will thus be seen that downward movement of the cam block will be resisted by and will result in compression of both sets of springs, the force being transmitted therethrough into frame it.

Means are also provided for causing the eject ing of the blank following the trimming opera- For this purpose a pedestal 50 engages the under side of the blank, such pedestal being bolted by means of bolt Bi into a rod 52 which in its lower portion is provided with a shoulder 53 against which there operates a compression spring 56.

The rod 52 is guided for vertical movement witlr respect to the frame member fit, against which the opposite end of spring 54 bears. Thus upon initial closing movement of the press, the blank clamping member 28 causes the blank to be seated within the recess in the lower trimming member, and as the press begins to close, the blank is pressed into its recess to the extent determined by member 20, thereby compressing spring 5d. No further relative movement of these parts takes place with respect to the lower trimming member during the trimming operation; however as the press is being released following the trimming operation, spring 5 3 expands and lifts the trimmed blank out of its position so that it is made readily accessible and the press thus prepared for the reception of a subsequent blank.

Referring now more particularly to the operating cams which provide for producing the desired movement, it is desired to effect movement of the lower cam block and the accompanying lower trimming member 35 in a series of rectilinear or straight line lateral movements during the course of their joint downward travel.

The first such movement takes place from the central or neutral position shown in Fig. 1 through what may be considered for purposes of reference to be one end of the blank the terms end and side being used herein merely for refer-= ence purposes as the initial movement may be made in anydirection desired with respect to a blank of any desired shape. Since the upper trimming member does not move laterally, this movement causes the trimming part ltB to cut the projecting edge of the blank along this one end, usually resulting likewise in breaking through the material which is thus trimmed from a portion of the edge. The trimming member is then returned to its central position and is next caused to move to first one side and then the other of its neutral position in a diill) rection at right angles to its initial direction.

edge, working around from that end which was initially trimmed toward the opposite end. Finally, the trimming member is moved fromits central position toward such opposite end so that its last movement completes the freeing of the scrap and produces final separation thereof from the end opposite that which was first :worked, the scrap being thus separated without further breakage and in most cases as a single piece which can be readily picked up and removed by the operator.

For this purpose, the cam block 36 is con-- structed as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As there shown, cam surfaces 60 and iii are located on opposite sides and are complementary in nature. That is, a rise on one side is directly opposite a recess on the other so that through cooperation with the fixed camming members 62 and 63 which are bolted to frame ll, complete control over the movement of the lower trimming member 35 in one plane is afforded as the dies move in translation upward or downward.

Similarly, cam surfaces 6% and 65 are arranged opposite to each other and in the plane at right angles to that of surfaces til, 6i. Cam surfaces 66 and t5 are likewise complementary to each other and through cooperation with fixed came at and El carried by frame ii, provide complete control over the lateral shifting of the trimming member 35 in this plane at right angles to the first during the movement of translation of the dies.

Referring to Figs. 4A to 4D, the sequence oi operative positions and the way in which the scrap is separated as a single piece, are diagram matically shown. Thus in Figs. 2 and 3 the cams are shown in their initial position with the lower trimming member being centered or in its neutral position, and the trimming operation about to start. When the dies move down to the first position where the line marked A is opposite the nose of the several cams, a rise MA on cam 6t causes relative movement between the trim ming parts in such direction as to displace the lower trimming member with respect to the upper causing it to break through the edge of one end of the blank. As illustrated in Fig. 4A the lower trimming member has been moved toward the top of the view carrying with it the blank and causing the trimming member 68 to shear across one end of the blank. The projecting edge 36 is sheared oil at this end and usually breaks in two, leaving two wings which bend outwardly beyond the periphery of the blank.

Upon continuing downward movement of the dies, rise 60A and the corresponding recess BIA. are first relieved to cause return of the trimming member 35 to its neutral position in the first place, and upon further movement, the parts are brought into the second position marked 3. In this position while still centered in the first plane, it is given a displacing movement in the plane at right angles thereto. This is efiected by a rise 64B and the corresponding recess 653 which thus provide for a movement of the trimming part and the blank toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4B. As shown in Fig. 4B, this shears off the scrap around an additional part of the periphery of the blank at the left side thereof adjacent that end which is already separated but does not again break through the scrap itself. In the third position, marked C, recess 64C and rise 65C provide for movement of the trimmmg member in the opposite direction, in the same plane as in the second position. This causes the freeing of an additional part of the scrap on the other side of the blank to further separate the scrap around an additional part of the periphery of the blank, at the right side as shown in Fig. 40, without; breaking through the scrap.

In the fourth position the rise 85C and recess both terminate so that the trimming member is brought into its neutral position in this plane under the control of cams 64, 65. However in this final position, a rise SID and a corresponding recess 6013 on the opposite side of the other pair of cam surfaces provide for a shifting of the trimming member in the same plane as its initial movement but in the opposite direction. This causes the trimming member to move across the end of the blank opposite the end initially trimmed with the result that, as shown in Fig. 4D, the scrap having been broken and progressively separated around to the final point of attachment, this operation completes that separation and the scrap is thus entirely freed while being left in a single piece.

Upon return or opening movement of the press the operations of the trimming dies take place in, reverse order, leaving the two die members in their initial position relative to each other where they are both centered upon the axis. As above described, this is followed by the ejection of the trimmed blank and the dies are then ready for receiving an additional blank in a subsequent cycle of operation.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the imvention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein Without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a pair of cooperating die members adapted to be brought together and moved simultaneously in one direction in translation, trimming members carried respectively by said dies and shiftable relative to each other and with respect to a neutral position, means for shifting one of said trimming members rela tive to the other in one direction away from and back to said neutral position to break through the scrap and to trim one part of the blank, means for thereafter shifting said one of said members relative to the other in a plurality of similar movements in different directions away from and back to neutral position to progressively complete the trimming of the blank, and means for effecting each shifting movement subsequent to the first in a-direction adjacent to a preceding movement to provide for maintaining the scrap in a single piece.

2. In combination, a pair of cooperating die members adapted to be brought together and moved simultaneously in one direction in transthe scrap from the remaining part of the pe- 75 riphery opposite said initial portion while maintaining the scrap in a single piece.

3. In combination, a pair of cooperating dies adapted to be brought together and moved simul- 5 taneously in one direction in translation, trimming members carried respectively by said dies and shiftable relative to each other to effect the trimming of the edge of the blank, a plurality of pairs of cam means arranged to cause shifting of one of said trimming members relative to the other in directions at right angles to each other, said cam means including means to cause movement or said trimming member through one end of the edge of the blank, additional means for subsequently causing movement of said member through opposite sides of the edge of said blank, and still further means for subsequently causing said member to move through the remaining end of the edge of said blank.

4. In combination, a pair of cooperating dies adapted to be brought together and moved simultaneously in translation, trimming members carried respectively by said dies and shiftable relative to each other, means for causing one oi said trimmlng members to move in one direction through the edge to be trimmed breaking said edge, additional means for thereafter causing movement of said trimming member in a direction at right angles to said first mentioned direction to continue the breaking of said edge on both sides of the initially trimmed part, and still further means for subsequently causing said member to move in a direction opposite to said first mentioned direction to complete the breaking of the edge and to effect separation of the scrap in a single piece.

5, In combination, a pair of cooperating dies adapted to be brought together and moved simul taneously in one direction in translation, trimming members carried respectively by said dim and shiftable relative to each other, means operable for causing initial movement of said trimming member from a central neutral position through one edge of the blank to be trimmed followed by a return to said. neutral position, means for thereafter causing movement of said trimming memberfrom said neutral position to both sides thereof in a direction at right angles to said first mentioned movement, and means for effecting a final movement of said trimming member in a direction opposite to said initial move ment thereof to elfect final separation of the scrap in a single piece.

6. In combination, a pair of cooperating dies adapted to be brought together and moved simul-- taneously in one direction in translation, trimming members carried respectively by said dies and shiftable relative to each other, means operable for causing initial movement of said trimming member from a central neutral position through the edge of one end of the blank to be trimmed, means for returning said trimming member to neutral position, means for thereafter causing movement of said trimming member from said neutral position to both sides thereof in a direction at right angles to said first mentioned movement, means for returning said trimming member to neutral position, and means for effecting a final movement of said trimming member from its neutral position through the opposite end of the blank to effect final separation of the scrap therefrom in a single piece.

7. In combination, a pair of cooperating die members adapted to be brought together and moved simultaneously in one direction in translation, trimming members carried respectively by said dies, one of said trimming members being shiftable relative to the other and with respect to a neutral position, means for causing initial movement of said trimming member away irom said neutral position to break through one edge of the blank to be trimmed, means for causing additional movements tnereoi in diflerent directions to continue the breaking or the eoige pro gressively from the initial breaking thereoi anal means for returning said tr'ng member to said neutral position following each of said Eoreek== ing movements.

aaeaeoe t. In the process of trimming the edge of a blank by means of cooperating trimming members which ere movable relative to each other in a series of movements, the steps which comprise moving one ting member away from a neutral position in a series of straight line movements in difierent directions to break through the edge and progress ely separate the scrap around the periphery of be blank, and returning the trim= mine member to said neutral position ioilowing eeeh oi said triing movements thereof.

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